Silent auction marks art charity’s 40th birthday

A Surrey charity which runs art studios for adults with learning disabilities is celebrating its 40th birthday with a silent auction.

The Artventure Trust runs art workshops for 55 adults a week at studios in Merrow and Bramley.

The artists have donated 40 works to celebrate the anniversary of the charity.

Manager Mariann Kehrling said the art works were “especially hand-picked for this occasion and I think everybody can find something that they will like”.

She said the art sessions were a valuable way for the artists, including people who are non-verbal, to express themselves.

“It’s the nicest thing to see them lost in art and the other brilliant thing is seeing them find their own voice by doing this,” she added.

Artist Nico Attallah said: “I hope that my art will be sold to somebody else.”

He said it would make him feel “surprised and amazed” if his work ends up hanging on a buyer’s wall.

“I will even amaze myself,” he said.

Nico said making art “helps you be the people you are”.

“It helps you be free and you can do whatever you want in your art. And nobody can judge you, who you are.”

Pippa Mathers said she loves creating art.

“It’s quite freeing in a sense. You can come up with whatever you feel like,” she said.

The charity’s trustee, Sue Cundell, said work created by Artventure participants has gone on show across Surrey, with displays at Guildford Railway Station and the Electric Theatre, amongst other venues.

Seeing it framed and on display means “you can see their confidence lift,” she said. “They come to life when they start talking about their art work. It gives them something to focus on and they come alive as they’re talking about it.”

People can bid for the artwork until Saturday 1 December.

Christmas cards are also on sale through the Artventure Trust website.